smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "bryan" <munki100@pacbell.net> |
| Subject | R.I.P. David Hemmings |
| Date | Thu, 4 Dec 2003 07:23:04 -0800 |
[Part 1 text/plain iso-8859-1 (2.8 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
RIP David Hemmings
This obituary (from Yahoo News) doesn't mention that
he also recorded an album, the Jim Dickson-produced
Happens, which isn't bad at all (and hopefully will be
reissued by Revola one of these days!). You can hear
his rendition of Gene Clark's "Backstreet Mirror" on
the Byrd Parts CD. Happens features the Byrds' Chris
Hillman on bass and Roger McGuinn on guitar.
Bryan Thomas
From Yahoo News:
Actor David Hemmings Dies on Set of Film
Thu Dec 04, 8:26 AM ET
David Hemmings, the British actor who attained
international stardom as the existential fashion
photographer in the 1966 film "Blow Up," has
died at age 62, his agent said Thursday.
Hemmings, who also forged a successful career
behind the camera directing for cinema and TV,
died of a heart attack Wednesday while filming
a movie role in Romania, said agent Liz Nelson.
Paramedics on the film set of "Samantha's Child"
were unable to revive him, Nelson said.
"He had just finished his final shots of the day
and was going back to his dressing room," she
said. "He had only recently returned to acting.
He opted for a number of years to work on his
own projects, directing and producing."
Born Nov. 18, 1941 in Guildford, England,
Hemmings was a notable boy soprano and
was featured in English Opera Group performances
of the works of Benjamin Britten.
After his voice changed, Hemmings studied painting
at the Epsom School of Art where he staged his first
exhibition at 15.
He returned to singing in his early 20s with nightclub
appearances before moving onto the stage and
gradually into films.
His early British movie roles usually saw him cast as
misunderstood youths and belligerent "Teddy Boys,"
leading to his role in Michelangelo Antonioni's "Blow Up."
His boyish good looks were also put to use in science-
fiction romp "Barbarella" and the film version of the
stage musical "Camelot."
With 1971's "Running Scared," Hemmings began a
new career as a director several movie and TV
productions in England, Australia and Canada.
The two careers ran in parallel for several years with
his directing credits including the movie "Just a Gigolo,"
but by the 1980s his TV directing took precedence
with shows such as "Magnum PI," "Airwolf," "The
A-Team" and "Quantum Leap."
"People thought I was dead. But I wasn't. I was just
directing The A-Team," he once remarked.
Hemmings returned to acting in 2002 with the role of
Cassius in the Oscar-winning "Gladiator." Other recent
roles included parts in "Gangs of New York," and
"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."
Hemmings, who was divorced twice, is survived by
his third wife, Lucy Williams, and their two sons; and
by a daughter from his first marriage and a son from
the second.
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.